eCommerce is a vast ocean, and your success in reaching your goal will depend on how adaptable and efficient your eCommerce platform is.

Magento is, without a doubt, a great platform. It is open-source and highly scalable. However, we’ve witnessed many store owners struggling with Magento—lost in its complexities, frustrated with sluggish load times, and burdened by the constant need for expert help. All they need is a platform to work flawlessly with, and Shopify is the cure.

But once store owners consider migrating from Magento to Shopify, a list of doubts arises.

• What if Shopify limits my eCommerce growth?
• Are there any hidden costs in Shopify? (Similar to Magento)
• What if I lose my store’s SEO once I migrate from Magento to Shopify?
• Most common question: What will be the time and cost of Magento to Shopify migration?

If these questions are also echoing in your mind, this blog will help you gain a clear idea of the wonders that Shopify can bring to your online presence.

Ready to make your eCommerce journey smoother with Magento 2 to Shopify Migration? Let’s get to understand it all.

Before we delve into topics related to migration, we’ll start with a detailed comparison between Magento and Shopify. So, you can leave behind any doubts about whether Shopify is a worthy platform.

Magento Vs. Shopify: Detailed Comparison

We’ll carry out this comparison on key areas such as cost, features, scalability, security, customization, ease of use, and more.

The battleground is ready for a showdown. In one corner, we have an open-source eCommerce platform, Magento, and in the other, the SaaS solution, Shopify. Will Shopify turn out the right platform for you to migrate?

Let’s check.

Magento Vs. Shopify: Cost

Cost is the biggest decision-maker in any of our purchases. So, let’s start our discussion with it.

Magento is free to download, install, and set up for your store. However, as you’re already working with it, you know that there is a list of associated costs. You’ll need to pay for a domain, hosting, and security certificates (such as SSL), as well as themes, extensions, and more.

If we compare it with Shopify, it does come with a flat fee. There are three main pricing packages, which range from $39 to over $399 per month. Luckily, this plan covers the domain, hosting fees, and an SSL certificate, eliminating the need for you to purchase these elements separately.

The only additional cost incurred with Shopify is purchasing themes and apps, which are also available at a convenient price.

Verdict: From our point of view, since Magento is an open-source platform, the pricing for acquiring each element (e.g., hosting, domain, etc.) will depend entirely on your needs. Meanwhile, Shopify offers three fixed-price plans that seem more affordable and convenient, as store owners don’t need to worry about the technical aspects of running an online store.

Magento Vs. Shopify: Features and Functionality

Next, buyers seek a list of features that they’ll get with their purchase. So, let’s explore what Magento and Shopify have to offer.

To make you aware of their features in an easy way, here’s a simplified table comparing some key features of Shopify and Magento.

Features	Magento	Shopify
Multiple Websites and Storefronts	✔️	✔️
Mobile App Possibilities	✔️	✔️
Easy Content Updates	✔️	✔️
Built-in POS System	❌	✔️
Multiple Payment Gateway Support	✔️	✔️
Multi-Currency and Language Support	✔️	✔️
Automatic Handling of Country and State Tax Rates	✔️	✔️
Extension or Apps Hub	✔️	✔️
Built-in Analytics Tool	✔️	✔️
Marketing Features (Personalization, abandoned cart recovery, and more)	✔️	✔️
International Commerce Capabilities	✔️	✔️
24/7 customer support (Live chat/call/AI Assistant)	❌	✔️
Discussion Forums and Community Support	✔️	✔️

Verdict: We can see in the comparison table that both Magento and Shopify offer a ton of features to make your online store fully functional. So, no losers here!

Magento Vs. Shopify: Customization

Now, let’s explore if both platforms can expand their feature lists. In other words, can they easily incorporate add-ons for features that are not available?

Yes, Shopify does have a plethora of customization options. If a feature or functionality is unavailable, you can easily go to the Shopify App Store, it offers apps for almost every store functionality you might want to add.

For instance, if you wish to include an estimated delivery date on your product page, and Shopify doesn’t have that feature built-in, you can easily find a relevant app in the app store to integrate it within a few taps. And there won’t be any conflicts as each app undergoes testing and approval by Shopify itself.

Magento also has an endless scope of customization due to its open-source nature. You can use extensions from the Magento marketplace or various third-party providers to include any feature or functionality. However, the integration process is technical, so in some cases, it may require a developer’s expertise.

Verdict: Both platforms are highly customizable. But Shopify goes the extra mile by providing each functionality out-of-the-box, whereas Magento requires you to have a developer on board to unlock its full potential.

Magento Vs. Shopify: Scalability

When it comes to growing your business, both Magento and Shopify allow you to scale up. But, is it simple, or does it involve a complicated process? Let’s check.

With Shopify, scaling up is easy. As your business grows, you just need to upgrade to a bigger pricing plan. Shopify takes care of the technical aspects like package and hosting upgrades, so your store’s performance and operations won’t be affected.

On the other hand, Magento is open-source, and you have to buy hosting separately. This means scaling up with Magento will require a big transition.

You might need to move to a different server or switch hosting providers. This process is complex, and if something goes wrong, there’s a chance your website performance may drop, or your store may face downtime, directly impacting your sales numbers. So, relying on an expert is likely necessary when your Magento store is in the scaling phase.

Verdict: Shopify, of course, wins, as scaling your business with it is just a matter of some clicks. After all, no store owner is looking to think about server structures when their main focus is supposed to be on building their brand.

Magento Vs. Shopify: Ease of Use

Lastly, every store owner dreams of working flawlessly on the platforms they choose.

Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, thanks to its completely hosted nature. It is built for everyone, both tech-savvy individuals and those with basic technical know-how. When I first built a store with Shopify, as a non-techy, I didn’t face a single issue in adding products, making design adjustments, or integrating apps. It was all buttery smooth.

On the other hand, Magento is the exact opposite when it comes to user-friendliness. Only a technical person can work comfortably on Magento. Although Magento provides you with complete control over your store, it will require basic to comprehensive knowledge for you to make minor adjustments or integrate extensions.

Verdict: Shopify takes the lead here. Its intuitive interface makes it a hassle-free choice for quick and easy store management. Magento, however, offers powerful control over the store, it is better suited for users with technical expertise.

Quick Comparison

Until now, we have seen how Magento and Shopify differ on multiple levels. But still, each comparison pointer is not yet covered. So, below is a comparison table that will help you figure out additional differences between Magento and Shopify.

Aspect	Magento	Shopify
Web Hosting Included	❌	✔️
Unlimited Product Options	✔️	✔️
Unlimited Bandwidth	❌	✔️
Free Subdomain Creation	❌	✔️
No-code Store Builder	❌	✔️
SSL Certificate Inclusion	❌	✔️
Content Management System	✔️	✔️
Unlimited Staff Accounts	❌	✔️
Detailed Sales Reports	✔️	✔️
Security Compliance (PCI-DSS)	✔️	✔️
International Payment Support	✔️	✔️
Built-in Fraud Protection	✔️	✔️
Mobile App Options	❌	✔️
Open Source	✔️	❌

(Source: Shopify)

That was all.

Until now, we’ve observed significant differences between Shopify and Magento in terms of pricing, scaling opportunities, user-friendliness, adaptability, and more. And it’s true to say that Shopify’s closed-source nature makes it a more stable, scalable, secure, and ultimately more cost-effective platform for businesses of all sizes.

Now, let’s understand why people are abandoning Magento and opting for Shopify – and why you should too.

Why are People Choosing Shopify Instead of Magento?

This is because most store owners aim to grow their online store, and Shopify allows them to do so effortlessly. Magento, being open-source, requires store owners to rely on third-party marketplaces, engage in heavy customizations for decent features, and increase the need for a developer. 

Let’s be real – no store owner wants their eCommerce platform to be tough, especially when their whole business depends on it. And that’s where Shopify turns out to be the best option. It has a highly user-friendly interface that is responsive, requires low maintenance, and doesn’t give store owners a tech-induced migraine.

Even after addressing a list of user concerns, Shopify remains cost-effective, highly scalable, and provides a comprehensive eCommerce solution. That’s the reason why store owners prefer to go ahead with Shopify, and you should too.

That was it.

I hope this information helped you clear your doubts about whether Shopify is the right platform for you to migrate to or if you may face any hassles afterward. And trust me, it’s hassle-free.

Now, let’s move to address another concern of yours – the time taken for moving from Magento to Shopify.

Time to Migrate Magento Store to Shopify

The time taken for Shopify migration will depend a lot on how big and complex your store is. So yes, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to present here.

This is because the Magento Shopify migration process is all about moving your data from one platform to another. The migration time includes the time taken to migrate product details, customer details, past orders, and any special customizations that your store has.

Let me share the Magento to Shopify migration time breakdown.

For Small to Medium-sized Stores

If your Magento store is on the smaller side and has little data with not many fancy features, migration to Shopify may take you around 5 to 7 days.

For Medium to Enterprise-sized Stores

If your store is of medium to enterprise size with a hefty amount of data and advanced features, your Magento to Shopify migration timeline may range from 4 to 6 weeks.

This process can get a bit tricky. For a quick and smoother transition to Shopify, and to avoid any hiccups, opt for Shopify migration services, unless the amount of data is too less. As professionals are familiar with the potential issues that can arise during the migration process and can speed things up to save time during migration.

Now that we’ve found answers for the time involved in migration, let’s uncover the answer to the most common question: how much do store owners need to spend on Magento 2 to Shopify migration?

Magento to Shopify Migration Cost

The cost won’t come as a fixed number; migrating from Magento to Shopify will cost you in chunks.

So, once again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The cost will depend on various factors such as store size and complexity. What are those different costs associated, and how much are they?

Let’s read through and understand the same.

1. Shopify Subscription Fees

We already discussed that Shopify works on subscription packages. This means that moving from Magento to Shopify will first require you to purchase a subscription.

So, consider it a first chunk of cost coming in. If you’re confused about what subscription plan would work best for you, here’s a pricing table that will help you decide on packages that work right for your business requirements.

Packages Offered by Shopify	Package Pricing	Best Suited For
Basic Shopify Plan	$39 per month	Individuals and Small Businesses
Shopify Plan	$105 per month	Small to Medium-sized Businesses
Advanced Shopify Plan	$399 per month	Medium to Large-sized Businesses
Shopify Plus	Starting from $2000 per month	Enterprise-sized Businesses

Additionally, when you pay for these plans on a yearly basis, you get a 25% discount on them.

Let’s uncover another cost that is associated with Magento to Shopify migration.

2. Data Migration Cost

You took the first step toward the migration Magento Shopify process by purchasing your subscription plan and owning a Shopify store. Once you do that, the next step in your migration process will be data migration. Where you import and export store data, from the old Magento store to the new Shopify store.

This, indeed, comes with a cost. Whether you need to hire a developer to help you with Magento data migration to Shopify or you choose to do it yourself (DIY), you’ll need to pay for data migration tools to import store data.

Let’s understand the cost breakdown for both.

Cost of Hiring Shopify Expert for Migration

• Fixed Rate: $10,000 to $20,000
• Hourly Basis: Around $20 to $55 per hour

Average Cost of Data Migration Tool

It may range from around a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. This is a broad estimate, and the actual cost will be influenced by the specific tool you choose, the volume of data you are migrating, and any additional features or services included.

If you need suggestions on the best migration tools for moving from Magento to Shopify, here are some options you might consider:

1. Cart2Cart
2. LitExtension
3. And Matrixify

That’s it.

We know that the Magento 2 to Shopify migration process doesn’t end with creating a Shopify account and the migration of data. There is a lot of work left. Let’s continue by understanding if the further process of data migration involves any cost and, if yes, how much it is.

3. Shopify Store Set Up and Redesign Cost

Once you migrate your older store data to your new Shopify store, you’ll need to set up your entire store again, make adjustments, and ensure the design matches your brand image.

This incurs additional costs for you to consider when migrating from Magento to Shopify. Here’s the breakdown of each cost associated with the setup and redesigning of your store.

Cost of Purchasing Shopify Theme

To get started with Shopify, you’ll need a theme. There are many free themes available on the Shopify theme store and the cost for premium themes will range between $180 – $350.

Cost of Purchasing Shopify Apps

We previously discussed that Shopify app store has over 8000 apps to help you integrate new functionalities. So, in case you’re looking to bring in your old store functionalities, you have the option to do it with apps available on the Shopify platform, which come with an average cost of nearly $20 per month.

Cost to Set Up or Redesign Your Shopify Website

You can purchase themes and apps on your own, but setting up your store and redesigning it to match your older aesthetics will require you to hire a Shopify migration agency or a freelance expert. For that, the service cost of experts may range between $500 to $25,000, depending on the level of customization needed and the expertise of the developer.

And these are the approximate numbers that will vary depending on the type of theme and level of customization you need.

That covers the associated costs of migrating to Shopify. Now, let’s address another concern: the fear of losing SEO during migration. Is it genuinely possible to transfer Magento to Shopify without compromising on SEO? Let’s figure out.

Does Magento to Shopify Migration Impact Store SEO?

Yes, migrating to any eCommerce platform can have an impact on SEO. How?

Migration brings many changes to your website, like a new platform, a new URL structure, and more. Now, URL is the information that search engines use to rank your website. And if that structure is changed, your search engine ranking positions will experience a dip.

But you can minimize risk value by simply following the right transfer process for SEO elements. Here is the list of things you can consider doing for proper SEO migration.

1. Keep URLs the same if possible.
2. In case, if you need to change URLs, use 301 redirects, to inform search engines about the move.
3. To avoid duplication of web pages, adjust canonicalization, it will guide search engines to the new URLs.
4. Carefully migrate product descriptions, blog posts, and other content.
5. Transfer meta tags, titles, and meta descriptions for each page.
6. Preserve header tags (H1, H2, etc.) during the migration.
7. Ensure that alt text for images is migrated.
8. Check for any broken links and fix them.
9. After migration, resubmit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
10. Generate a backlink report for your old Magento store using tools like Moz and Ahrefs.
11. Contact websites with your backlinks and ask them to update your new links.

Following these steps mindfully will help you migrate while preserving your SEO rankings.

If you still see any drop in ranking after migration, don’t worry much; it’s normal for your rankings to drop temporarily. If you’ve followed the Shopify migration process correctly, you’ll soon see your positions improve.

Moreover, migrating from Magento to Shopify can also turn out well for your SEO, as Shopify is a great platform in terms of store performance. So, there are chances for you to achieve better ranking positions than what you had earlier with Magento.

To avoid any risks associated, you can choose to hire a professional, who’ll help you migrate your store and store SEO effortlessly. Would you like me to suggest one?

Let’s do it.

Aureate Labs is Ideal for Magento to Shopify Migration!

Migrating from Magento to Shopify can be a stressful journey, you need a reliable partner to make it smoother. And you can always count on us for that.

We are Aureate Labs, a leading eCommerce development agency based in Asia. We specialize in all the Shopify services you may require during or after the migration, ensuring a seamless Magento 2 to Shopify migration.

Why Choose Aureate Labs for Your Magento to Shopify Move?

• We have over 10 years of expertise in Shopify.
• We guarantee migration to Shopify within 2 weeks*.
• You get 30 days of post-migration support with us.
• We’re an Asia-based agency, meaning lower service charges.

… And much more.

For more information, you can explore our Magento to Shopify Migration Service here, and feel free to contact our experts for further discussions on your new Shopify store.

Summary

Shopify is indeed the best eCommerce platform you can consider migrating to in this modern era of businesses. I hope this blog helped you make your decision on migration by solving your doubts about how Shopify outshines Magento, why people are making a switch to it, the time and cost associated with migration, and its potential impact on your store’s SEO.

Do type a comment below, in case any of your queries remain unsolved.